Objective
To investigate the effects of Interferon beta treatment on T-Cell Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-
) binding (which is a possible marker for T-Cell-dependent Immune Function) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
Design
The TNF- binding on T-Lymphocytes from patients with stable Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis was assayed before and 3 and 6 months after the start of treatment with Interferon-ß.
Setting
The study was performed on ambulatory patients in a tertiary care center.
Patients
Eighteen patients with clinically definite stable Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (13 women and 5 men; mean [± SD] age, 32.6 ± 7.1 years) were selected consecutively. Clinical status was defined according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale.
All patients were treated with 8 × 106 U of Interferon-ß-1b subcutaneously every other day. Eighteen age and sex matched healthy subjects, with no family history of NeuroPsychiatric disorders, served as controls.
Results
- T-Lymphocytes from untreated patients with Multiple Sclerosis had significantly more TNF- receptors than those from controls (mean ± SE, 837 ± 33 vs 135 ± 5 receptors per cell).
- After 3 months of treatment with Interferon-ß-1b, they showed a significant decrease (P<.001) in TNF- binding (452 ± 29 receptors per cell).
- After 6 months, T-Cell TNF- maximal receptor numbers were even lower (345 ± 35 receptors per cell).
Conclusion
Given that increased TNF- binding might be linked to Lymphocyte activation, our data demonstrate that a major effect of Interferon-ß-1b treatment is to decrease T-Cell activation.
